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💧 Freshwater Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

aquarium

Buccochromis spectabilis Trewavas, 1935
Max Length
25.6 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.1
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
27.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Buccochromis spectabilis is a species of haplochromine cichlid. It is endemic to Lake Malawi in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania. It lives in shallow waters near the lake shore.

Scientific Name
Buccochromis spectabilis
Authority
Trewavas, 1935
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
25.6 cm
Trophic Level
4.1
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
27.00/100
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Diagnosis: elongate habitus; small adult size; low number of longitudinal line scales (35-37) . : elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for aquarium is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

small fish
crustaceans
cephalopods

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 👄 Mouth Brooder 🛡️ Egg Guarder
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical Endemic to Lake Malawi.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater
Trophic Level
4.1±0.7

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00389 × L3.12 (TL)
Max TL
25.6cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2018

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
27.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.1
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Trewavas, 1935

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"aquarium is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for aquarium is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for aquarium has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇫🇮Finnish siniverkkoahven

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Cyrtocara spectabilis Trewavas 1935 Synonym
Haplochromis spectabilis Trewavas 1935 Synonym

📚 Scientific References

13 publications cited

General
  1. Froese, R. and Pauly, D. (Editors) (2024). FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. FishBase Consortium. Link ↗
Conservation
  1. IUCN (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2024-1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Link ↗
Taxonomy
  1. GBIF Secretariat (2024). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. DOI ↗
Nutrition
  1. USDA Agricultural Research Service (2024). FoodData Central. USDA National Nutrient Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Link ↗
Fishery
  1. NOAA Fisheries (2024). FishWatch: U.S. Seafood Facts. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Link ↗
  2. Monterey Bay Aquarium (2024). Seafood Watch Recommendations. Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. Link ↗
Aquaculture
  1. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department (2024). The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Link ↗
Distribution
  1. Kaschner, K., Kesner-Reyes, K., Garilao, C., Segschneider, J., Rius-Barile, J., Rees, T., Froese, R. (2024). AquaMaps: Predicted range maps for aquatic species. AquaMaps. Link ↗
Ecology
  1. Nelson, J.S., Grande, T.C., Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World. 5th edition. John Wiley & Sons.
Behavior
  1. Helfman, G.S., Collette, B.B., Facey, D.E., Bowen, B.W. (2009). The Diversity of Fishes: Biology, Evolution, and Ecology. 2nd edition. Wiley-Blackwell.
Morphology
  1. Froese, R. (2006). Cube law, condition factor and weight-length relationships: history, meta-analysis and recommendations. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 22(4), 241-253. DOI ↗
Toxicology
  1. Halstead, B.W., Auerbach, P.S., Campbell, D. (1988). A Colour Atlas of Dangerous Marine Animals. Wolfe Medical Publications. Wolfe Medical.
Reproduction
  1. Balon, E.K. (1975). Reproductive Guilds of Fishes: A Proposal and Definition. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 32(6), 821-864.

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 7 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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